Archived Fishing Report

Fishing Weather Returns; Lake Levels Up Slightly

Written by Steve McCadams |
Originally published 11/15/2012

Decent weather has returned this week to the Kentucky Lake fishing scene and anglers are embracing the warm-up and light winds. Moderate temperatures are forecast for the weekend with highs expected to be in the low 60’s with light wind and sunshine.
Crappie anglers have fared well since midweek when the warming trend began after a cold start on Monday and Tuesday where temps struggled to reach the upper 40’s a few days. However, things bounced back quickly as some decent catches were reported the last few days when boaters were able to venture back out to main lake drop-offs.
Most of the fish are coming from deeper ledges in the main lake area where depths of 17 to 21 feet were producing decent numbers of fish. The crappie are relating to structure on the deep sides of the drop-off most days and seemed to have pulled out of midrange stakebeds and brushpiles the last week or ten days.
Jigs are working well but some anglers are using bottom bumping rigs armed with live shiner minnows at times too. Popular colored jig skirts have range from blue/chartreuse to dark green/chartreuse, red/white, and purple/green combos just to name a few.
Surface temperatures this week cooled slightly into the 53 to 55 degree range. Water color remains clear as not much rain has fallen in the watershed.
Lake levels are up slightly from last week and hovering around the 355.6 range at Kentucky Dam. Forecasts for the New Johnsonville area for the weekend will be 355.5. Those readings are up a foot to 18-inches from two weeks ago when TVA pulled the reservoir down to winter pool for a week or so.
It is somewhat surprising that lake levels have increased lately as very little rain has fallen across the TVA valley.
Bass anglers continue to fish a grass pattern with spinnerbaits and Rattle Traps at times while others are tossing crankbaits around gravel banks and rocky points. Shallow roadbeds and boathouses have also given up some bass lately.
There are a few boats working drop-offs with big crankbaits, Carolina rigged crawfish, and some Texas rigged worms at times. A few smallmouth have shown up at times for anglers casting grubs and crankbaits on the Tennessee River portion.
Some schooling fish had been showing up around shallow sandbars at times before the cool snap earlier this week. That pattern could resume later this week when warmer conditions and light winds return.

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